Size-reducible box



Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,674

A H. F. MARSTON Fi. led Nov 18 p es Patented pr. 3, 1923.4

UNITED STATES? HOWARD r. irans'ron, or DAYTON, omo.

size-annucnam Box.

Application led November 18, 1921. `Serial No. 518,188.

To all whom, t my concern: A

` Be it known thatl, HOWARD F. Mans'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the Jcountyvof Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Size-Reducible Boxes, of which the following is a specification,'reference being had therein to the 'accompanying drawing.v

This invention rel to improvements in size reducible boxes, more` particularly such boxes -designed for contalning tobacco in granulated or shredded form, or So called fine-cut, from uantities for his pipe or cigarette or for c ewing purposes. o i

In the tobacco boxes now inA use for these purposes the boxes are of fixed size, while the contents gradually reduce with their use` until it shortly becomes troublesome and difcult to remove the tobacco from the box due to the shallowness of the quantity and the comparatively great depth ofthe box. As

. contents such the quantity lessens this condition becomes more and more aggravated until finally the user has to commonly resort to the use of his pencil or other instrument to reach down into the box and digupjor loosen a quantity of the tobacco.

It is the objecttof my invention to overcome this prevalent and objectionable condition, toF which end my invention con-. sists:-

in making my im- First, and generally,

are adproved boxJof' two sections which `justable with referenceto each other so that the mouth of the box can be lowered as the contents are withdrawn, whereby there will be no condition when the contents cannot be readily reached from the mouth of the box.

Second, and more specifically, in combining with such reducible box a fran'gible lin-` ing or carton for containing the tobacco frangible element being reducibleih size, asby cutting or tearing of portions thereof, as the box is reduced in size with the progressive removal ofl'the contents.

Third, in providing the two sections of the ox with serrated portions which will secure he sections against dropping or pulling apart and yet will permit the sections to slide on each other to allow of reducing the size of the box as the contents lessen.

whih the user will take ofl:I

have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawing.

vIn these drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of. my improved box when of normal size;

' Fi 2 isu a vertical sectfonal view box a so in normal size, and showing the enclosed carton of normal size also ;V

Fig. 3 is a like sectional view showing the box in reduced size and likewise the carton, in full lines, reduced in size; and

.Fig 4 is a vertical sectional view of a present style of tobacco box showing the contents reduced below accessibility by the fingers, with the carton Yand box still of -full size. A f

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the base section of my improved box and 2 the top section. These sections are prefer-Y ably of the wide and thinY type shownhaving broad sides 3 and narrow ends 4. But they may be of'cylindrical or other shapes.

The surface 5 of section v3 is serrated, as by being struck up, and the surface 6 of section 2 is complementarily serrated, while one section isfitted within' the other so that the two sections have a sliding relation and the serrated surfaces will act to hold the sections in 'adjusted positions and yet permit of the movement of one section on the other, thus forming a sort of yieldable lock or frictional grip.

When the sections'are distended, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,- -the box is of normal size and the contents substantially ilush with the mouth of the box, as shown at 7 in Fig. 2. But. as the contents are removed by lifting the lid 8 which is secured to the upper section by a hinge 9, the upper line of the conltentswill be lowered and before the lid is closed the user will press theV sections t0- of such gether and reduce the size of the box so that- As the contents are lowered the' user will preferably remove the upper empty portion of the carton which is, lasl stated, frangble and may. be torn or cut olf. The mouth of the upper section being lowered to agree with the surface of the contents, as suggested by the contents line 12, the frangible carton can adily be t'orn or cut oi and thus made to agree with the reduced size of the box.

tents, as with t-he fingers, without lfurther reducing the size of the box. In this figure I have shown the carton reduced to the yline indicated at 13, from its ori inal size indicated by the dotted lines 14. his progressive reduction of the size of the carton corresponding with the reduction of the size of the box is preferable, though in some cases the user may prefer to merely withdraw the contents, reduce the size of the box, and crowd into the box the unfilled surplus portions of the carton.

It will now readily be understood that with my 'invention the box is reducible in size progressively with the lessening of the contents and that the enclosing carton Ais likewise reducible in size. The advantages in use are distinct andreal as' this reducibility of the size of the box keeps the contents so near the mouth of the box as to enable the user to remove the last quantity of the contents quite as readily as at any other time. Again, there is the advantage of a box that constantly dessens in size so that during the period of consumption of say, the last half of the contents, the box is only half the size it was in thebeginning, which not only facilitates the removal of the contents, as stated, but lessens the inconvenience of carrying the box in ones pockets. I have particularly described my box with reference to use for containing tobacco, but it is obvious that it has other uses, such as for soap, candy, etc.

A further utility of the serrations 5 and 6 is that of affording match-striking surfaces. These surfaces are very effective for that purpose.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I elaimdas new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A size-reducible box comprising a base section broader than it is thick and having a surface on its narrow side with alternate grooves and ridges and a top section ttiug over the base sectiomand having a similar surface on its narrow side, the ridges of one section being spaced apart to fit into the grooves of the other section tohold the sections in a plurality 'of adjusted positions but allowing telescopic movement of the sections in both directions, said sections when united forming a box of extreme size when the serrations are least overlapped and formingv a box of minimum sizecwhen said serrations are most overlapped.

2. A size-reducible box comprising a base section broader than it is thick and having on its narrow side alternate grooves and' ridges and a top section having a hinged cover, said top section fitting over the base section and having also similar narrow and broad sides, the narrow sides being provided with alternate grooves and ridges to fit into the grooves and ridges of the other section to hold the sections in a plurality ofsadjusted positions, said sections forming abox of extreme size when the serrations are least overlapped and forming a box of minimum size when said sections are most overlapped, said sections being movable back or forth as desired.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HOWARD F. MARS-TON. 

